Today's news summary, Nov. 15, 2013

NEWS: Dutchess County Democratic Election Commissioner Frances Knapp, who faced a 94-count indictment, entered guilty pleas in Dutchess County Court today to two misdemeanors. The plea satisfies all charges in the indictment, which included 46 felonies and 48 misdemeanors. The guilty pleas were related to the 85th and 87th counts of the indictment. The first plea was to making a punishable false written statement, a class A misdemeanor, which was reduced from first-degree making an apparently sworn false statement in the first degree, a class E felony. The second plea was to official misconduct, a class A misdemeanor. Visiting Judge Barry Warhit, of Westchester County, granted Knapp a conditional discharge but ordered her to pay fees, resign from the elections commissioner position by Dec. 31 and agree to the release of the grand jury report associated with the case.

A former New Paltz man accused of killing his 2-year-old niece has been convicted of second-degree murder. Joseph Rodriguez, 44, formerly of New Paltz, was convicted of beating his niece, Asia, to death. The crime occurred on June 20, 2012 at a home on Route 32, north of the village. The Ulster County District Attorney's Office announced the verdict Friday, reached by a jury of seven women and five men Thursday afternoon after two days of deliberation. During the trial, District Attorney Holley Carnright argued Asia had been repeatedly slammed against a concrete block chimney at the rear of the house. She had been manually strangled, but the cause of death was brain injury due to multiple skull fractures caused by blunt force trauma, Carnright said in his press release.

A Fishkill man who moved from Georgia is sentenced to 58 years to life in prison for multiple felony convictions, after a jury found him guilty of sexually and physically assaulting his live-in girlfriend on numerous occasions, authorities said. Justin Carrino, 29, was sentenced Thursday in Dutchess County Court by Judge Stephen L. Greller, officials said. The jury convicted him of all seven counts in his indictment on Aug. 21, after a two and a half week trial. The jury deliberated about three hours over two days before reaching the verdict, according to Greller's office. The charges were predatory sexual assault, a class A-2 felony, two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual abuse, first-degree rape, two counts of second-degree assault, first-degree criminal contempt, all felonies.

COMING SATURDAY: The Marlboro football team will play in a Class B state semifinal game Saturday against Pleasantville, as the Iron Dukes attempt to reach the semifinals for a second consecutive year. Pick up Saturday's Journal for a complete preview of the game, and follow Journal reporter Sean T. McMann on Twitter, @JournalSean, for live updates throughout.

The state semifinals begin on Saturday for four mid-Hudson Valley high school squads. The volleyball teams from John Jay, Millbrook and Haldane will all play in round-robin semifinal rounds at the Glens Falls Civic Center, and Haldane's girls soccer team will play at semifinal match at Tompkins-Cortland Community College in Dryden. For live updates from the action, follow the Journal's Sports department account, @PJSports, as well as Journal reporter Phil Strum's @PJStrum, live from the volleyball tournaments.

In Weekend Life, the stars team up with Dutchess County teens from local schools in "Worth The Wait," a production that delves into the risks associated with early sexual experiences. The James Brown Family Children Foundation will partner with the Urban United Performing Arts Think Tank for the show, at the James Brown Family Performing Arts Center in Poughkeepsie.

COMING SUNDAY: My Valley offers help for sprucing up your home using natural ingredients for centerpieces, wreaths and other decorations. You will also find a story on the Great Swamp, one of the area's most vital wetlands.

Read about the debate over raising the age at which you can begin collecting full Social Security benefits. Older Americans say no. They also veto reductions in the cost-of-living increase. Learn more in Smart Life.

WEATHER: Tonight's low will be about 35 under mostly cloudy skies, the National Weather Service says. Saturday, partly sunny with a high of about 58. Sunday will bring rain, but warmer temperatures and a high near 63.

To read the complete versions of these stories, click "Top News" in the navigation of your tablet site, iPhone or Android app or the Journal's mobile site, m.poughkeepsiejournal.com. You can also visit www.PoughkeepsieJournal.com.

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Today's news summary, Nov. 15, 2013

Frances Knapp, Dutchess County's Democratic Election Commissioner, entered guilty pleas to two misdemeanors today, satisfying a 94-count indictment; a jury convicted a New Paltz man in the death of